Orlando City picks up SuperDraft Priority for striker sent to City B | OneFootball

Orlando City SC picked up a forward from Sporting Kansas City. The striker immediately went to Orlando City B. There’s a strategy behind that move.

Forward Dyson Clapier comes to Orlando City SC from Sporting Kansas City. The player immediately moves to the Orlando City B roster for this season, with an option for the next.

With hot prospect Yutaro Tsukada out for the season – first team player Wilder Cartagena is also out – the Lions front office is watching the B squad closely in case help is needed during the heat of the season. Those players need to be kept sharp in competitive conditions, with short-term looks with the first team.

Eyes will be on Clapier expecially.

Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said the organization is looking to add Clapier to the Orlando City ecosystem for depth. The club acquired him through his SuperDraft Priority.

Clapier was selected by Kansas City in the 2024 SuperDraft out of the University of Akron. He was picked 51st overall, but returned to college for a fifth season. He scored 19 goals plus 20 assists throughout his five seasons.

As he didn’t sign with the league, Clapier was placed on Sporting Kansas City’s SuperDraft Priority List. He’s finished with Akron, so Orlando City traded the club a natural second-round pick in the 2026 SuperDraft. They acquired the SuperDraft Priority, then signed the player.

2012 MLS SuperDraft Presented By Adidas | Jamie Squire/GettyImages

By MLS rule, Sporting would have lost priority rights to sign the player on Dec. 31.

Scouts don’t have to travel far to assess strong talent for the first team as they develop and compete with Orlando City B. Clapier will be in a strong, competitive environment.

Midfielders Gustavo Caraballo and Colin Guske are on short-term contracts with the first team. Awaiting Clapier on the pitch are highly regarded midfielder Jhon Solis and defender Zakaria Taifi.

As Orlando City SC picks up the speed and passing accuracy to start defeating their opponents, it will be a season worth experiencing.